Easy Way to Cook Chicken on the Stove

For those evenings you're looking for some lean protein, but don't have the time to formulate an elaborate meal, you can cook chicken breasts easily and quickly on the stove top in just 30 minutes or less. Choose your favorite seasonings to flavor the chicken to your personal taste. You can serve your pan-cooked chicken whole with side dishes, or shred or chop it and add it to your favorite meals, such as burritos, pasta, or risotto. Get creative with your weeknight meals and enjoy an easy, healthy and tasty dining experience.

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Step 1: Season Your Chicken

Remove boneless skinless chicken breasts from packaging and place them on a cutting board or on a plate. For best results, use a meat tenderizer or the bottom of a mug or jar to pound or press the breasts into an even thickness.

Season the raw chicken (Image: Julia Mueller)

Sprinkle both sides of each breast with sea salt and choice of seasoning. Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning make a winning flavor combination!

Season to your heart's delight (Image: Julia Mueller)

Tip

If you have the time, place the chicken in a seal-able plastic bag or container and refrigerate 30 minutes, up to 8 hours. Once you're ready to prepare the chicken, bring it to room temperature in order to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of grapeseed, canola, or olive oil in a large skillet (or enough oil to generously coat the surface), and heat to medium-high. Rotate the oil so that the full surface of the skillet is covered.

Heat oil in a skillet (Image: Julia Mueller)

Once the oil is hot, place the seasoned chicken breasts on the skillet. Cook for 1 minute, then turn the heat to medium-low.

Cook for 1 minute then flip (Image: Julia Mueller)

Flip the chicken using tongs.

Flip the chicken (Image: Julia Mueller)

Step 3: Cover and Cook Over Low Heat

Cover the skillet with a lid and cook on medium-low heat without uncovering or touching for 12 minutes. Turn off the stove, and remove the skillet from the heat. Leave covered for an additional 8 minutes without touching.

Cover and cook for 10 minutes (Image: Julia Mueller)

Once the chicken is finished cooking, transfer to a cutting board. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breasts to check the temperature. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check temperature of the chicken (Image: Julia Mueller)

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!

Once the chicken is cooked, you can either shred it with two forks, serve it whole alongside your favorite side dishes, or chop it into chunks and add it to salads, pasta, rice, or tortillas.